09/09/2026
The banker who turned to the Lord!
We have in our possession a rather curious cash book for the Findon Savings Bank, dated 1860.
Far from the grand banking institutions we know today, savings banks in the 19th century could be small, local affairs, often established to encourage ordinary people to save their money and earn a little interest.
This particular book appears to have been started by John Allan of Findon in 1860 - who may himself have been a fisherman.
But things take an unexpected turn…
After the initial pages recording the bank's business, the financial entries stop. The rest of the book becomes something entirely different - filled with Psalms, religious verse, poetry, songs about God and several letters.
Did the Findon Savings Bank simply fail? Did Mr Allan lose interest in banking? Or did he decide there were better returns to be found elsewhere?
Perhaps Mr Allan found better returns in faith than finance!
A fascinating piece of Findon's history, and a wonderful glimpse into the life and interests of one local man nearly 170 years ago.
